Does Potential Really Matter?

Potential is used to describe so many different things in softball from teams to seasons to players, even to parents. But what does "potential" really mean? Find out if it is something that just happens or if there is anything that we can do to help foster it, block it or even create it.

Whenever something is given the "potential" title it seems to add a lot of extra pressure to there being a successful outcome, and yet far too often that's an outcome that never comes to pass. How come? Why could a player or a team have potential and then never do anything with it?

Well the answer comes in the actual word. Webster's Dictionary defines potential this way:

existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality (as in - potential benefits)

We see words like possible, capable, development - all of these are words that describe the future. They describe things that might take place but that haven't yet and to me that is the real definition of potential and the one I use whenever I am asked about it. To me, potential is: something that hasn't happened yet.

For a player to have potential it really means that she's not good right now, or else we would just say she's good, we wouldn't have to talk about her future good in terms of her potential. I know it sounds a bit harsh but if you don't attach the word to any specific person then the definition makes sense.

Whenever we start talking about a player's potential it does a few things:

1. Potential creates expectations based on something happening in the future.
2. Potential creates pressure for future performance to start happening now.
3. Potential assumes a level of commitment that is based on the future talent and not so much on the specific player's love of the sport or skill.

The problem with all 3 of these things is that they are created by someone other than the person with the potential and besides, potential isn't very important anyway.

In my opinion, and you might think I'm nuts and choose to disagree with me, but I think that potential is useless in a person ultimately becoming good at something. A long time ago I was told by someone (who at the time was very respected in athletics) that I would never amount to anything in the sport of softball. That's obviously not proven to be the case, but that statement about my potential, or lack of it, didn't come true not because I am unique in any way, but because I believe that someone's ability to do something in the future is usually based on another person's opinion and not on what that someone actually wants for themselves.

How many times have you seen a player at 12 that looks athletic and strong and talented, only to see that same player at 18 has either quit the sport or else is just very average? It happens all the time. But why, why can someone be so talented at a young age like 12 only to end up very average later on?

The answer lies in the following:

Potential just means you haven't done it yet and is usually something that's determined at a young age and is based on physical things like size, strength, physical development or coordination.

Success means you have done it and is based on qualities like love of the sport, work ethic, determination, competitiveness, and desire. These Qualities for Success are not physical in nature but instead, are mental components as it's these things that will determine how much a player practices and how hard they work to improve any of the skills they have as well as how hard they will compete in order to ultimately win.

Qualities for Success are what we should all really be focusing on when looking at young kids. Internal factors like how much a player likes the sport and is willing to practice it will determine far more about a player's future for success than if they are tall or strong. How hard they will work, or how determined they are to improve or how fiercely they will fight to win are all things that help determine a person's ability to succeed more than something as vague and physical in nature as potential.

Why have I been able to make an entire career out of softball when someone told me there was no way I would? It wasn't because I was the tallest player or the fastest pitcher or even the best - because I wasn't. But I did work extremely hard to get better as a pitcher, I worked hard as a coach to learn everything I could from everyone I could and administratively I worked harder and longer than most people in places that most people wouldn't work.

If you want someone to be a success in the future then instead of worrying about a player's "potential" pay closer attention to her qualities for success and if they aren't there naturally then try and develop the desire, work ethic and competitiveness in your players - all of which will serve them well in whatever future endeavors they go into.

For more help with developing your player's skills check out:

• Our eDrills
• RevFire Pitch Speed and Spin Softball Package
• Hitting Disks
• Zip Balls